Two goals from Robert Lewandowski and one from Ansu Fati, in just seven minutes, were enough for Barcelona to resolve their commitment against Villarreal (3-0) and get their heads back after the defeat at the Bernabeu and practically say goodbye to the Champions against Inter de Milñan.
The azulgrana, who for once had a comfortable game, played with conviction, had a new helmsman in Frenkie de Jong and did not repeat the mistakes made against Real Madrid and Inter. Besides, the best news for them was the improvement of Ansu Fati.
Ansu was seen with that spark that he has lacked since he returned from injury and for which Xavi did not give him more minutes. Against Villarreal he shared the lead with Lewandowski and Ferran Torres and his two companions upstairs looked for him to make him feel comfortable.
The Pole leaned to the left on many occasions seeking proximity to the skillful Barça striker. The proximity of two geniuses meant distrust in the yellow defense and Ansu got tired to finish off, up to five times in the first 23 minutes.
Villarreal did not seem too embarrassed, because Barcelona’s push was more fictitious than real, it threatened more than it created danger and also those of Unai Emery, with the speed of Danjuma and Jackson, created a few doubts in the central axis, where Marcos Alonso he was seen dislocated many times.
With Frenkie de Jong playing Busquets; Barcelona had another record. The Dutchman’s legs were noticeable, in the recovery and especially running backwards, but the Catalans did not quite feel comfortable.
Lewandowski seemed off. Lost among the yellow center backs, he couldn’t receive. Villarreal felt sheltered. Ansu did not seem fine, but in the first connection that the Pole had in the area he scored.
And he did it after a magnificent service from Alba, who had taken advantage of a pass into space from Pedri. Barça’s definition of nine was delicious, he cut heels, in an action in which he left the two central defenders and Rulli sitting, then beat the goalkeeper low (1-0, min. 31).
His staging was devastating. In his second action, he received from Gavi at the top of the large area, looked at Rulli and put the ball on the long post (2-0, min. 35). In four minutes, Lewandowski had dynamited the game and scored his eleventh and twelfth goals in LaLiga.
Ansu joined the party in minute 38, after a great action by Ferran, which Fati initially did not define, but he did hit near the goal line.
In the second half, Barcelona did not give a single concession against a Villarreal who never believed in getting anything positive. The blaugrana controlled the game with Frenkie de Jong’s mettle and Pedri’s class, they always had the ball and didn’t allow chances.
Faced with any problem, Jules Kounde appeared to correct some positional error by Marcos Alonso or to win the race or play the cut against any rival.
Ansu had the fourth as soon as the second half began and Raphinha, with ten to go, failed after a great action by Dembélé. Much earlier, Xavi Hernández began to reserve players and rested Ansu, Lewandowski, Koundé and Frenkie de Jong. Also Emery, faced with the impossibility of his team reacting, began to think about the next match.
Data sheet:
3 – Barcelona: Ter Stegen; Sergi Roberto (Bellerín, min. 70), Koundé (Piqué, min. 78), Marcos Alonso, Jordi Alba; Gavi, Frenkie de Jong (Busquets, min. 70), Pedri; Ferran, Lewandowski (Dembélé, min. 75) and Ansu Fati (Raphinha, min. 75).
0 – Villarreal: Rulli; Kiko Femenía, Albiol (Mandi, min. 80), Pau, Pedraza (Mojica, min. 24); Yeremy Pino, Morlanes (Trigueros, min. 58), Parejo, Álex Baena; Jackson (Alberto Moreno, min. 58) and Danjuma (Morales, min. 46).
Goals: 1-0, min. 31: Lewandowski. 2-0, min. 35: Lewandowski. 3-0, min. 38: Ansu.
Referee: Del Cerro Grande (Madrid Committee). He showed Pau Torres a yellow card (min. 90+2).
Incidents: 73,261 spectators attended the match in the match of the tenth day played at the Spotify Camp Nou. Before the start of the game, a minute of silence was observed in memory of José Manuel Llaneza, vice president of Villarreal, who died this Thursday. The soccer player Alexia Putellas offered the second ‘Golden Ball’ won last Monday in Paris to the fans, Gavi and Lewandowski also offered their Kopa and Muller awards, respectively, to the Camp Nou.
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